Shocking Death in Last of Us Season 2 Finale: What the Showrunner Revealed!

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Warning – This article contains spoilers for the Season 2 finale of The Last of Us.

The ending of “The Last of Us” series left many viewers emotional, shocked, and mourning several characters’ deaths, including a favorite one. Although Season 2 follows the storyline of Naughty Dog’s game “The Last of Us Part 2,” some adjustments have been made throughout the season. However, anyone who had hoped that Jesse (Young Mazino) would survive in the series finale will be saddened to learn that his fate was sealed from the start.

In the second season of “The Last of Us,” Jesse emerged as a notable young leader within the community of Jackson, Wyoming. Besides being Dina’s (played by Isabela Merced) sometimes-romantic partner, he served as a friend and guide to Ellie (Bella Ramsey). When Ellie and Dina secretly departed Jackson in search of Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), Jesse followed them, determined to halt their quest for vengeance and bring them back home.

How Does Jesse Die in The Last of Us Season 2?

In the final episode of Season 2 of The Last of Us, Jesse and Ellie join forces to locate Tommy (Gabriel Luna) in Seattle with the intention of returning home. Yet, as Ellie’s thirst for retribution intensifies, they part ways. They don’t reconnect until after she has carried out one of her most questionable actions at the aquarium.

Following this action, the Jackson group takes a breather at the theater, but they are quickly located by Abby. She aims a gun at Tommy, which causes quite a stir. In response, Ellie and Jesse rush over to assist Tommy. Unfortunately, before they could help, Abby cruelly shoots Jesse, fatally wounding him on the spot.

In “The Last of Us Part 2”, Jesse’s death reflects a similar pattern – his demise serves as a stark reminder of the vicious cycle of retaliation. Abby, in turn, seeks revenge for her fallen comrades who were killed by Ellie at the aquarium, leading to her taking the lives of Ellie’s friends. The fates of Ellie, Tommy, and Dina following Abby’s appearance are a mystery that will be unveiled in future seasons of “The Last of Us”.

Why Jesse Had to Die In Last of Us Season 2’s Finale

In the second season of HBO’s “The Last of Us,” certain alterations were made compared to the original game, like Eugene’s demise and the inclusion of spores. While Jesse’s end in the game was a definite outcome, the showrunners had always planned something different for him on the show.

In a concluding press conference for “The Last of Us” Season 2, executive producers Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin confirmed that Jesse’s end was irreversible. This heart-wrenching development was a significant aspect of the storyline that they had decided wouldn’t be altered.

Druckmann: “I don’t think we ever entertained an alternative. His fate was always sealed.”

Jesse’s demise is bound to leave a significant impact on those who were closest to him, notably Dina, as she carries his unborn child. Druckmann hinted that Jesse’s death will be crucial in the upcoming episodes, while Mazin mentioned that “Jesse dies partially due to Ellie.

Druckmann: “Of course such a situation would have a profound effect, considering he’s both the child’s father and a close friend, as well as an ex-lover. It will undeniably carry a great deal of significance.

Craig: “The circumstances are intriguing since Jesse ultimately meets his end partly due to Ellie. However, it’s important to note that Ellie didn’t fire the shot; instead, it was Abby who did.

In the upcoming seasons of The Last of Us, it won’t be ignored that Ellie plays a role in Jesse’s demise. This suggests that Jesse’s passing will significantly impact Dina’s life.

Craig: “[Dina] has chased after Abby, driven by a sense of justice following [Joel’s death]. The question now is, who does she hold responsible? I strongly feel that when you start asking ‘who do I blame’, you’re veering off course. Since Ellie shared the truth about Joel’s actions with her, it shifts things for Dina. Jesse’s demise will also impact her in a significant way. However, we need to watch and find out how this unfolds.

How Jesse’s Character Changed in The Last of Us Show

Although Jesse’s demise was unavoidable, the HBO series didn’t shy away from portraying his character with subtle variations compared to the game. In the TV show, Jesse is depicted as a more sympathetic figure, an “Eagle Scout” and the “next in line,” as it were, under Jackson. This alteration deepens the sorrow of his death since not only Ellie and Dina have lost someone dear, but also their community has lost one of its most influential members.

Craig: “Jesse, being such a dedicated Eagle Scout, really impressed me, and it was emphasized on the show that he’s seen as the likely successor, destined to become Maria someday and lead everything. This portrayal makes us respect him deeply, inspiring us to emulate him. In contrast, Ellie seems more entangled in her own anxieties and whims, which makes Jesse appear almost perfect in comparison.

In the last episode of Season 2 for “The Last of Us”, Jesse’s Scout-like conduct unexpectedly showed that he opposed Ellie’s request for a Jackson group to seek revenge for Joel. Despite his steadfast dedication to safeguarding his community, it was later shown that Jesse hesitated when the WLF took the life of a young Seraphite, as creator Mazin explained this scene was meant to depict “‘[Jesse’s] moral beliefs are so questionable:’

What struck me most about the last episode was the intense confrontation between Ellie and Jesse, particularly when she discovers how he voted. Her argument hit home for me because it exposed the questionable morality of his actions. It seemed to me that his sense of being moral was so easily challenged, based on who was inside or outside a certain boundary. He’d be willing to sacrifice himself for those within, but would let others, even children, die if they were outside that boundary. I found this realistic, since most people aren’t as morally perfect as an actual Eagle Scout.

In the relentless wave of violence portrayed in “The Last of Us,” Jesse’s demise is yet another casualty, a memory that will undoubtedly linger when the series resumes for Season 3.

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2025-05-26 05:05